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I vote for the pink. And I second the idea of redbud - they are beautiful, and far less susceptible to problems, than dogwoods. One more suggestion...cut down the Bradford pears! They stink in the spring, and the first really good windstorm you have, once they have any size on them, will take'm out.
So you're saying we should cut them down because they might be damaged by storms later. Do you support killing elderly people because they will die soon?
We lost one Bradford Pear to a storm earlier this year. We will replace them as they fall.
So you're saying we should cut them down because they might be damaged by storms later. Do you support killing elderly people because they will die soon?
We lost one Bradford Pear to a storm earlier this year. We will replace them as they fall.
Um...that's a pretty silly analogy. The trees are simply plant life. When they get larger, and take down a fence and possibly part of a house with them, you may wish you had chosen to take them down. If I had known more about mine, when I moved into my house, I would have had them taken down and replaced at that time. Just offering you some experience on them...that is all. One thing you might have done, once they get larger, is have them professionally pruned. That would most likely eliminate the risk of losing a major limb, or the entire tree, if you really want to keep them.
If it was up to me; I would go with real fruit trees. I would also choose apples and peaches over pears. It isn’t that the pears are not good - it is just that you can do so much more with the apples and peaches. You can buy the dwarf fruit trees that do not get that high. All of them go into bloom in the spring. The advantage of real fruit trees is that you get some free fruit.
If it was up to me; I would go with real fruit trees. I would also choose apples and peaches over pears. It isn’t that the pears are not good - it is just that you can do so much more with the apples and peaches. You can buy the dwarf fruit trees that do not get that high. All of them go into bloom in the spring. The advantage of real fruit trees is that you get some free fruit.
Unfortunately, fruit trees--and especially those from which you wish to eat the fruit--need to have a pesticide applied to them to protect the fruit. Not the best scenario.
Hmm out of the two choices, I would select the pink. There are a lot of white dogwoods in MD and I don't particularly like the flower (or bract). I also third the redbud. The native ones, at least have the prettiest leaves in the Spring. And the flowers are hot pink. The trees do produce a lot of seeds...
If you would consider an evergreen, I think they're great in the winter. The smell of fresh white pine is delicious around Christmas. If you plant an ilex opaca (these are native hollies, and grow into fairly tall trees) you can also have holly branches for Christmas.
I also think a real fruit tree would be great. If you don't have well-draining soil, you can try a native for your area. A lot of native fruit trees seem to be withstand more shade and moister soil than "imports" such as peaches. Whichever you choose, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
I also recommend cutting down the pear trees, you'll invest so much time in them only to walk outside one day to find them split in half. Dogwoods typically prefer partial shade, so you MAY have some issues there.
Southern magnolia would provide plenty of year round privacy there. You could also plant some Natchez (white) or Muskogee (pink) crape myrtles, both of these get large and would create a "wall".
If it was up to me; I would go with real fruit trees. I would also choose apples and peaches over pears. It isn’t that the pears are not good - it is just that you can do so much more with the apples and peaches. You can buy the dwarf fruit trees that do not get that high. All of them go into bloom in the spring. The advantage of real fruit trees is that you get some free fruit.
Lots of Bradford Pear haters.
My concern about having real fruit trees is... they drop fruit on the ground and it rots. I'm not really interested in picking my own fruit. My grandmother had an apple tree and there were always rotting apples on the ground with flies on them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty Rhodes
Of course, Crepe Myrtles always look nice also. (get the pink ones, I think they are prettier.
We have white crepe myrtles along the side of our house. I am a big fan.
There's a house nearby that has one in the backyard that has never been pruned. This thing is taller than the one story house, and it looks like a canopy over the backyard. They have lawn furniture and stuff under it. I've never seen a crepe myrtle that big.
Quote:
Originally Posted by southernnaturelover
I also recommend cutting down the pear trees, you'll invest so much time in them only to walk outside one day to find them split in half. Dogwoods typically prefer partial shade, so you MAY have some issues there.
Southern magnolia would provide plenty of year round privacy there. You could also plant some Natchez (white) or Muskogee (pink) crape myrtles, both of these get large and would create a "wall".
Only one of the Bradford Pears is close to the house, so the only thing they would take out is our crappy fence. They are a pretty lightweight tree anyway. We will keep them until they are damaged, and chop/dig them up with it happens.
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When they get larger, and take down a fence and possibly part of a house with them, you may wish you had chosen to take them down. 
If I had known more about mine, when I moved into my house, I would have had them taken down and replaced at that time. Just offering you some experience on them...that is all. One thing you might have done, once they get larger, is have them professionally pruned. That would most likely eliminate the risk of losing a major limb, or the entire tree, if you really want to keep them.
